Does Sumac Have Thorns?

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Sumac (Rhus spp.) may grow as a 5-foot shrub or as a small tree up to 25 feet tall. Sumac is deciduous, with green, ovate leaves that are usually 2 to 4 inches long. It grows in moist, well-draining soils and full sun. As a tree, sumac usually grows with multiple trunks. Various species of sumac can be found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. None of them possesses thorns.

Sumac Varieties

Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is what many people think of when they hear the word "sumac." Poison sumac grows in USDA zones 3 through 8 and is often found in swampy areas. Contact with this sumac variety can cause inflammation, itching or blisters in people sensitive to urushiol. Chinese sumac (Rhus chinensis) grows in USDA zones 5B through 8A, growing about 15 feet tall. Texan sumac (Rhus lanceolata) grows slightly taller at 18 feet in USDA zones 6B through 8. Sumac is recommended for medians, parking lot buffers or shade planting near patios due to its small size and lack of litter.

About the Author

Jill Kokemuller has been writing since 2010, with work published in the "Daily Gate City." She spent six years working in a private boarding school, where her focus was English, algebra and geometry. Kokemuller is an authorized substitute teacher and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.